Hardware integration & Networking

◦ A hardware-integrated, simply put, means a mobile

system that is combined with outlying hardware in order
to connect the two through an app, or other technology
system. As mobile devices such as smartphones and
tablets become more integrated into the workplace,
especially in hands-on industries like manufacturing,
they are constantly evolving to further benefit
businesses with expanded functionality. One of these
ways, is through integrating hardware.
◦ As the “Internet of Things” becomes more and more of a
reality, combining hardware and software shifts into
popularity and has become a goal for many app and
mobile developers, as well as a necessity for many
businesses. From surveillance systems, to warehouse
management, to medical equipment and home
appliances, hardware integration makes life easier for
consumers and employees, as well as lowers overall
costs.
 System integration
◦ System integration is defined in
engineering as the process of bringing
together the component sub-systems into
one system (an aggregation of subsystems
cooperating so that the system is able to
deliver the overarching functionality) and
ensuring that the subsystems function
together as a system, and in information
technology as the process of linking
together different computing systems and
software applications physically or
functionally, to act as a coordinated whole.
 System integration
◦ The system integrator integrates discrete systems utilizing a variety of
techniques such as computer networking, enterprise application integration,
business process management or manual programming.
◦ System integration involves integrating existing, often disparate systems in
such a way "that focuses on increasing value to the customer" (e.g., improved
product quality and performance) while at the same time providing value to
the company (e.g., reducing operational costs and improving response time).
In the modern world connected by Internet, the role of system integration
engineers is important: more and more systems are designed to connect,
both within the system under construction and to systems that are already
deployed.
Computer is used to generate models of design which may be applied at various stages in
design process. Design models are geometric or graphic in nature and therefore the way in
which this is achieved is primary through computer graphics.

The major component of any CAD / CAM system is the hardware that is used for computational
and graphic requirements:

We will deal with;

1)The basic system of computing system hardware in CAD / CAM,

2)Developments in microprocessor and their speed,
3)The different types of memories used in computers,
4)The variety of graphic input information,
5)The types of graphic display devices, such as, printers, plotters,
6)The variety of secondary storage devices used for storing and archiving the CAD / CAM data,
 Memory

The heart of any computer system is its Central Central Output

Processing Device
Processing Unit (CPU). In CPU all the Unit

necessary functions are carried out. Arithmetic Input Devices

and logic operations are carried out in CPU.

The CPU communicates with outside world through
input / output (I / O) devices. (Peripheral Units) CPU

Storage
Types of Systems:
1)Main frame, ALU Output
Input
2)Mini Computer,
3)Micro Computer, Control unit

4)Work Station.
Another important part of a computer is memory unit. Here necessary data or programmes is
stored. The types of memory and its amount determine the capability of the computing
system. There are two types of memory.
➢ Primary memory,
➢ Secondary memory.
The Primary memory is the terms which designate storage areas that are physically a part
of the computer and connected directly to CPU. The main memory is subdivided into three
categories;
✓ Main data storage,
✓ Control storage,
✓ Local storage.
The various types of semiconductor memory units are;
1) ROM – Read Only Memory
2) PROM – Programmable Memory
3) RAM – Random Access Memory
4) EPROM – Erasable Programmable Memory
5) EEPROM – Electrical Erasable Programmable Memory.
A workstation is a special computer designed for technical or scientific applications.
Intended primarily to be used by one person at a time, they are commonly
connected to a local area network and run multi-user operating systems.

Workstations offer higher performance than PC, which are optimized for the
visualization and manipulation of different types of complex data such as 3D
mechanical design, engineering simulation (e.g., computational fluid
dynamics), animation and rendering of images, and mathematical plots.
Typically, the form factor is that of a desktop computer, consist of a high-
resolution display, a keyboard and a mouse at a minimum, but also offer
multiple displays, graphics tablets, 3D mice (devices for manipulating 3D
objects and navigating scenes), etc.
A CAD (Computer-aided design) is a computer technology that allows designers,
engineers, and architects to design products and documents. And also, it can be
used to produce 2D and 3D diagrams that can be rotated and viewed from any
angle. You can also transfer detailed diagrams of the materials, processes, and
dimensions of a product.
The Use of CAD in the following sectors:
• Construction
• design Infrastructure
• Product design
• design Manufacturing
• Electrical design
• Animation design.
For making CAD possible, we require a Computer-aided design system. This level of
work cannot be done on a basic workstation or a gaming PC.
And also, CAD systems include a combination of software and hardware, as well as a
mouse, stylus, scanning tablet, and a special printer or plotter.
Besides, these are some of the features you can expect from components for
computers that work on a CAD basis:
• Xeon
• NVIDIA Quadro graphics processors
• Tesla options
• Low-latency ECC RAM GPU
• Backlit fans
• Sound damping
• Maximized airflow
A Graphic workstation specifically configured for graphics works such as
image manipulation, bitmap graphics, and vector graphics ("draw") type
applications. Such work requires a powerful CPU and a high resolution display.

The workstation must accomplish five functions:

1)It must interface with CPU,

2)It must generate steady graphics images,
3)It must provide digital description of graphic image,
4)It must translate computer commands into operating functions,
5)It must facilitate communication between the user and the system.
User communicates with the computer for feeding information. The input devices are;
1.Key Board
2.Mouse
3.Light pen – Touching with light
4.Joy Stick
5.Digitiser
6.Track Ball
7.Thumb wheels,
8.Tracker ball
9.electronic tablet
10.Scanner
a.Drum scanner
b.Flat bed scanner
1.DIGITIZERS, which consists of a large smooth board and an electronic
tracking device which can be moved over the surface to follow existing lines.

2.A Light Pen is a pointing device shaped like a pen and is connected to a VDU.
The tip of the light pen contains a light-sensitive element which, when placed
against the screen, detects the light from the screen enabling the computer
to identify the location of the pen on the screen. Light pens have the
advantage of 'drawing' directly onto the screen, but this can become
uncomfortable, and they are not as accurate as digitising tablets.

3.A Digitising (Electronic) Tablet is a pointing device that facilitates the

accurate input of drawings and designs. A drawing can be placed directly
on the tablet, and the user traces outlines or inputs coordinate positions with a
hand-held stylus.
1.Display devices (monitor)
a)CRT – Cathode Ray Tube,
b)LCD – Liquid Crystal Diode,
c)LED – Light emitting diode
d)Plasma display
2. Printer
a. Impact printer (Dot matrix printer) 9 pin, 24 pin in
80 col
b. Inkjet printer
c. Laser printer
d. Plotter
3. Memory media
CRT (Cathode ray tube) techniques:
All graphics terminals use CRT as a display device. CRT is a glass enclosed tube in which
electron beam is produced, by the electron gun and focussed and deflected onto a
phosphor-coated glass screen. Electrons energize the phosphor coating, causing it to
glow at the points where the beam makes contact. The screen thus glows to produce a
visible trace.
Deflection system

Cathode & control grid

Electron beam

Focusing system
CRT displays (Graphic terminals) are broadly
categorised into

1.Direct view storage tube

2.Vector refresh

3.Raster refresh
1. Direct-View Storage Tube (DVST):
This terminal also uses a vector scan approach to generate an image. Here
storage tube refers to the ability of the screen to retain the image which has
been projected against it. Lines can not be selectively removed from the
image. They are cheap and displays large amount of data. Conceptually the
Direct View Storage Tube (DVST) behaves like a CRT with highly persistent
phosphor. Pictures drawn on there will be seen for several minutes (40-50
minutes) before fading. It is similar to CRT as far as the electronic gun and
phosphor-coated mechanisms are concerned. But instead of the electron beam
directly writing the pictures on the phosphor coated CRT screen, the writing is
done with the help of a fine-mesh wire grid.
Characteristics:
Uses stroke writing approach to generate image
Storage refers to the retaining ability of the image
Lines may be easily added to the image
Lack of selective eraser and color capability
2.Vector refresh:
The deflection system of the CRT is controlled and driven by vector
and character generators and digital to analog converters. The
refresh buffers stores the display file that contains points, lines,
characters of the pictures to be drawn.the electron beam excites the
phosphorus for a short period. In order to maintain a steady
image the screen must be refreshed at least 30 or 60 times per
second. Vector refresh display is particularly noted for their bright
clear image and high drawing speed.
Characteristics:
▪Uses stroke writing approach to generate image
▪Refresh refers that image can be generated many times per
second to avoid flickering
3.Raster refresh display:
This works on the principle of domestic television set. The
display area is divided into matrix of small elements called
pixel. Pixels are controlled by the electron beam which
sweeps across the screen from one side to other.
Characteristics:
Operation is similar to the working of a CRT
The image is generated with the help of electron beam
Provides very high resolution
But requires very large buffer for refreshing
Techniques used for image scanning: The graphic display can be divided into two
types based on the scan technology used to control the electron beam when
generating graphics on the screen.

1. RASTER SCAN, where viewing screen is divided into a large number of discrete
phosphor bronze picture elements called pixels. A matrix of pixels causes a raster.
Example: 256 x 256 to 1024 x1024. Each pixel can be made to glow with different
brightness.
Scan Line

Vertical
retrace

Horizontal
retrace
The electron beam moves from top to bottom and left to right, one row at
a time ( scan line). During the scan the the intensity of the beam is
changed according to the pattern of the desired image. At the right of the
screen, the beam ids blanked and moved to the left edge, positioned one unit
below the previous starting point. (dotted line) The scanning continues till
the lower right corner is reached. And the beam is again repositioned to the
left upper corner.

2. Random scan: In random scan graphics can be generated by drawing

vectors or line segments on the screen in a random order, which is
controlled by the user input and software.
 .
STORAGE DEVICES IN CAD SYSTEMS
In many cases the information that has been processed is stored in machine- readable format so
that it may be accessed at a later time by a computer. This data is stored in binary form in 'bits'.
This practice requires the use of storage devices. The Storage Devices are:

Hard Disk
Magnetic Tape

A recording medium consisting of a thin tape with a coating of a fine magnetic material, used for
recording analogue or digital data. Data is stored in frames across the width of the tape. The
frames are grouped into blocks or records which are separated from other blocks by gaps.
Magnetic tape is a serial access medium, similar to an audio cassette, and so data (like the
songs on a music tape) cannot be quickly located.

However large amounts of information can be stored within magnetic tape. This
characteristic has prompted its use in the regular backing up of hard disks.
Floppy Disk
A floppy disk is a thin magnetic-coated disk contained in a flexible or semi- rigid protective
jacket. Data is stored in tracks and sectors.
The floppy disks are usually 3.5" in size. However, older floppy disks may be in use; these
would be 5.25" in size. Double sided high density 3.5" disks can hold 1.44 Mb of data.
Once data is stored on a floppy disk it can be 'write protected' by clicking a tab on the disk.
This prevents any new data being stored or any old data being erased.

Optical Disk
An optical disk is impressed with a series of spiral pits in a flat surface. A master disk is
burnt by high-intensity laser beams in bit-patterns from which subsequent copies are
formed which can be read optically by laser. The optical disk is random access storage
medium; information can be easily read from any point on the disk. A standard CD-ROM can
store up to 650Mb of data, with 14,500 tracks per inch (tpi).

CD-ROM stands for Compact Disk - Read Only Memory. It is now possible to have CD-ROMs
where extra tracks of information can be written onto them by the user. These are called
read/writable CD-ROMs and these are becoming a popular and cheap method for storage0
CAD software is used to increase the productivity of the designer, improve the quality of
design, improve communications through documentation, and to create a database for
manufacturing. Designs made through CAD software are helpful in protecting products and
inventions when used in patent applications. CAD output is often in the form of electronic files
for print, machining, or other manufacturing operations. The term CADD (for computer aided
design and drafting) is also used.

In mechanical design it is known as mechanical design automation (MDA) or computer-aided

drafting (CAD), which includes the process of creating a technical drawing with the use of
computer software.

CAD software for mechanical design uses either vector-based graphics to depict the objects
of traditional drafting, or may also produce raster graphics showing the overall appearance of
designed objects. However, it involves more than just shapes. As in the manual drafting of
technical and engineering drawings, the output of CAD must convey information, such as
materials, processes, dimensions, and tolerances, according to application-specific
conventions.
A set of instructions that directs a computer’s hardware to perform
a task is called a program, or software program.

System software is software designed to provide a platform for

other software. Examples of system software include operating
systems like macOS, Linux, Android and Microsoft Windows,
computational science software, game engines, industrial
automation, and software as a service applications.

System software controls a computer’s internal functioning, chiefly

through an operating system, and also controls such peripherals as
monitors, printers, and storage devices.
Application software is software that allows users to do user-oriented tasks
such as create text documents, play games, listen to music, or browse the
web.

Application software, by contrast, directs the computer to execute

commands given by the user and may be said to include any program that
processes data for a user. Application software thus includes word
processors, spreadsheets, database management, inventory and payroll
programs, and many other “applications.” A third software category is that of
network software, which coordinates communication between the
computers linked in a network.